Articles Tagged with“Personal Injury”

As anticipated, last week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an order requiring more studies on the risks of transvaginal mesh by manufacturers. Transvaginal mesh – also referred to as vaginal mesh and pelvic mesh – has come under fire after years of reports linking serious injuries to the devices. In September, an F.D.A. advisory panel recommended that such studies be required.

Transvaginal mesh is a medical device primarily used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Over the years, significant problems have been reported to the FDA including:

If you or a loved one has had surgery utilizing the transvaginal mesh and experienced injuries, it’s important to speak with an experienced New Mexico products liability attorney who is familiar with vaginal mesh complications.

The FDA first reported problems with the mesh in 2008, but stated that such problems were rare. However, in the time span from 2008 to 2010, the increase in adverse events related to the mesh increased 10-fold, leading to the most recent warnings. According to reports, in 2010 about 185,000 women underwent treatments using the medical device and about 15% of those women treated with vaginal mesh experienced complications. A study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology also determined that the mesh did not provide any greater benefits than the traditional method using a patient’s own ligaments.Continue reading

A recent report published by a California firm has concluded that many consumer products contain a form of asbestos called tremolite asbestos. Tremolite asbestos is a non-commercial form of asbestos and like all other types of asbestos, carries the risk of asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Although the greatest risk of developing one of these diseases applies to people who work in asbestos mines or live near them, tremolite asbestos also poses a risk to consumers of developing mesothelioma.

If you have been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with one of these diseases or conditions, it is important to consult with a New Mexico asbestos attorney who can provide your family crucial advice. In many cases, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries.

According to the California study, well-known occupations with a risk for asbestos exposure such as career auto mechanics have an estimated risk of exposure to tremolite of 0.028 f/cc per year. Surprisingly however, consumers who regularly use items such as potting soil or other gardening products are exposed to a higher amount of tremolite asbestos – 0.034 f/cc per year. Even though this risk may be less than that of asbestos miners, enough asbestos exists in consumer products for concern. Further, the more asbestos-containing products a consumer uses regularly, the greater their lifetime risk of developing life-threatening diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Researchers estimate that every year 2500 – 3000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma.Continue reading

A recent report issued jointly by the American College of Obstetricians and the American Urogynecologic Society details vaginal mesh recommendations, including that the mesh should only be used for certain high-risk women. The safety and efficacy of the synthetic mesh, also known as transvaginal mesh or bladder mesh, has been called in question, making its use only beneficial for a small percentage of women where the benefits outweigh the risks.

Vaginal mesh has been used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, condition where the pelvic muscles become torn or stretching, causing the pelvic organs to “drop down and bulge” into the vagina. More the 350,000 women have surgery to correct this problem each year. In the past, vaginal mesh has been used to repair POP. However studies have shown that the mesh has cause serious complications such as pain, infection, and protrusion through the vagina, often necessitating additional surgeries. In fact, according to one report “a small but significant group experience permanent and life-altering problems, including pelvic pain and painful sexual intercourse because the mesh erodes through the vagina wall.”

If you or a loved one has had surgery implanting the vaginal mesh and experienced complications, it is important to consult with an experienced transvaginal mesh attorney. Those injured as the result of this dangerous medical device may be entitled to compensation for their harm. A knowledgeable transvaginal mesh lawyer can advise you concerning your rights and provide critical guidance about your next steps.Continue reading

In an effort to remove asbestos, a dangerous mineral shown to cause cancer when inhaled, many companies and building owners hire “asbestos abatement” professionals to help remove the toxic substance. Numerous buildings throughout the United States and New Mexico still contain asbestos, often used in insulation and other building materials. Further, homes built as late as 1986 may still have asbestos in their ceilings. If the asbestos is contained, it’s potential risks are low, however, if the fibers can become dislodged and inhaled, individuals face dangers of developing one of the diseases associated with asbestos exposure such as mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable Albuquerque mesothelioma attorney. Many times, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

A recent under cover asbestos investigation revealed that now workers involved in the asbestos -abatement field are facing dangers and risks from asbestos exposure. A college student -Ernest Ojito – started working in a construction job as a way to make money for his tuition, but left his job due to dangerous working conditions. He alleges violations at six different companies, including providing little or no protection for workers, potentially exposing them to asbestos dust. Federal law requires workers be provided with proper masks and decontamination showers to wash away asbestos.Continue reading

Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen and chest cavity. The development of the disease is associated with being exposed to asbestos. In fact, nearly all of those people who contract mesothelioma have been in contact with asbestos products. This may be as the result of exposure at work or contact with asbestos fibers, such as washing the clothes of a family member who has worked with asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness or breath, chest wall pain, and weight loss. However, because symptoms generally don’t appear until at least 20 years after exposure occurs, this cancer is often diagnosed in late stages. No known cure exists for mesothelioma.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and has developed mesothelioma, it is important to contact an experienced New Mexico asbestos lawyer to discuss your options. Often, it is possible to obtain compensation for those people wrongfully exposed to asbestos.

According to the article, the man’s only exposure to asbestos occurred for 4-hours/day for 3 years during his high school summers. This study further establishes that exposure to asbestos for short and intense periods of time can lead to asbestos disease.Continue reading

As women across the country continue to suffer complications from the use of Johnson & Johnson’s transvaginal mesh devices, a new report reveals that the design of the bladder mesh was based on recalled transvaginal mesh devices that had been taken off the market more than ten years ago due to safety problems. The devices were designed to treat a condition called pelvic organ prolapse.

Transvaginal mesh, also referred to as a pelvic sling or bladder mesh – has been subject to increased scrutiny as the result of problems from its use including:

If you or someone you love has experienced complications from the use of transvaginal mesh, it is important to speak with an experienced defective medical device attorney who can provide critical advice concerning your injuries. In many circumstances, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.

Here, reports indicate that even though the FDA had pulled a similar mesh design created by Boston Scientific Corporation from the market, the FDA continued approving the similarly designed vaginal mesh created by Johnson & Johnson. Now, makers of the implant face more than 600 lawsuits nation wide from women who have suffered serious injuries from the devices. The devices were approved as part of FDA’s 510(k) process that allows “fast-track” approval of medical devices where a similar device is already on the market. The fast-track process allows new devices to be approved with little – if any – testing on patients.Continue reading

AP reports that the number of Iron Rangers who have died from mesothelioma has risen. Mesothelioma is a rare and almost always fatal form of lung cancer associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma often takes up to 30 years or more to show up.

If you believe you or a love one has been exposed to asbestos or has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important to speak with an experienced asbestos attorney. Many times, those who have been harmed may recover compensation for their injuries.

The Iron Ranger mesothelioma study determined that the number of ironworkers known to have died has risen from 63 to 82 in the last year. Initial reports suggested that the worker’s increased risk was due to asbestos exposure from commercial sources such as insulation on pipes, furnaces and boilers. However, others believe that the exposure causing mesothelioma is the result of asbestos-like fibers being released from the taconite rock during processing.

A study evaluating the ironworkers continues, with the results expected within the next 5 years. Early reports show that 1,681 taconite workers have developed some sort of lung cancer. The study will include a determination of how and where the asbestos came from and whether death rates of deceased taconite workers on higher on the Iron Range than within the general public.Continue reading

The FDA has recently issued an updated transvaginal mesh warning on the use of the mesh to help repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP). POP occurs when the pelvic organs fall out of place as the result of the stretching or weakening of the tissues holding the organs in place. Transvaginal mesh – also known as vaginal mesh, bladder mesh or a pelvic sling – has been used to surgical correct this condition. However, research has concluded that serious side effects and complications may result due to its use.

Although some of these effects may be reverse through additional surgeries, others may be life-long, debilitating consequences. According to the FDA – most cases of POP can be treated successfully without the use of transvaginal mesh. The implanting of this dangerous medical device unnecessarily exposes patients to the risk of harm.Continue reading

A recent asbestos report concluded that the number of people suffering from malignant mesothelioma as the result of asbestos exposure continues to surge. Studying trends in asbestos use and patients affected with asbestos related cancers in Korea, the Netherlands and Japan, experts concluded that the number of people suffering from asbestos exposure is set to increase for at least the next 30 years.

The statistics are based on the widespread use of asbestos and its incubation period. Asbestos is a mineral commercially used for several different purposes including insulation, brake pads, wiring and piping. Although its use has been severely curtailed, exposure continues and has an incubation period of 10 to 30 years. Often those exposed include laborers, factory workers, brake mechanics, plumbers and shipyard workers.

If you have been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to speak to a mesothelioma law firm to obtain the critical information you need and obtain the help you deserve.Continue reading

Recent reports have linked finasteride – marketed as Propecia – with persistent and possibly irreversible sexual dysfunction. Propecia, which treats hair loss, works by decreasing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that causes hair loss.

In fact, doctors have known for years that Propecia has been linked to sexual problems including impotence, but a recent Propecia study performed by George Washington University found that as much as 38% of all users have adverse sexual events based on dosage and duration.

These side effects include low sexual desire, problems with orgasms and erectile dysfunction. In addition to the sexual side effects, additional life threatening ailments may arise including an increased risk of developing an aggressive form of prostate cancer and breast cancer.

The study also determined that sexual dysfunction associated with taking the drug is persistent, and not reversible as was previously thought. The Propecia study found that the side effects from taking the drug lasted an average of 40 months, with 20% of the men having side effects lasting more than six years.Continue reading